Medication & Oxygen

Make sure you keep the things you need in carry on. Check the things that are easier to replace. The general rule is to keep everything in it's original container with a copy of the prescription. Some drugs, I can't detail them, should have a letter from your physician describing why you need them. Get a list of generic names of your medicines, in case you need to replace them - they may be sold in a different form or brand name in Europe.

I think the biggest issue is European countries don't have the same list of no-no drugs as we do. Some drugs there are considered no big deal, but regulated closely here. Others are the opposite.

I take a variety of medicines with me when I travel. I have never had anyone ask me about them, or take any sort of interest in them. Is other travellers' experience different?

My main concern is that I have enough for the time I will be away, and then some extras in case there is an unexpected delay. I always carry a list of my drugs and a copy of my latest prescription, but that is in case I should lose some and have to replace them, or in case I am taken ill and asked by a doctor what medication I take. That has happened on more tha one occasion.

One thing take into account is the time change. As an example if you have to take medication every 12 hours the flight and time change may affect that. I would speak to your physicians about that. Also if you take over the counter drugs make sure you take that as well. Sometimes the same things here are not available in Europe under the same name or dosage.

Be sure to pack all things medical in one bag - you can carry this on in addition to your carry-on allowance. Do not pack medical needs in a checked bag.

I often travel for as much as 3 mos in Europe and so that means taking a huge supply of prescription drugs; I have never had anyone at immigration or security take the slightest notice of them. I always carry them in the messenger bag I also use for the computer, camera, phone etc on the plane. As others have noted, never pack this stuff in checked luggage. I don't have any drugs prone to abuse except maybe Ambien which I leave in its prescription bottle. If you have narcotics, injectables etc it is probably prudent to have medical documentation.

We always pack the OTC meds in the checked luggage; France has excellent pharmacists who are the first line in health care and most pharmacies have at least one person who can speak a bit of English and can counsel you if you need a particular OTC drug or sometimes even prescription drugs. We have had statins my husband forget to pack replaced without prescription; pharmacists have some discretion on such things. With OTC meds it is helpful to have the chemical name; I have always been able to get what I need with that e.g. things like decongestants, cough medicines etc. If you take a lot of such things as ibuprofen, bring your own supply as these are oddly expensive in Europe and sold in very small quantities; generally meds are much cheaper particularly prescription drugs.

Oxygen seems like a bigger issue on both plane and to replace. I would assume you have to make special arrangements to take it through security and carry it on board and make sure that whatever is available in France will fit the connectors and such. That is specialized information I don't have but you need to run down.

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/supplemental-oxygen-on-commercial-airlines-beyond-the-basics

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not allow travelers to
carry their own oxygen tanks or liquid oxygen aboard commercial
aircraft. Instead, most patients can use a Department of
Transportation approved battery-powered portable oxygen concentrator.
Airlines landing in the United States are now required to allow use of
these devices throughout the flight.

"Shop around" for an appropriate airline — Oxygen policies and charges
can be very different, depending upon the airline. It is important to
obtain the most up-to-date information about an airline’s specific
requirements to make sure that your needs will be met. The
Transportation Security Administration web site
(www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures) provides general information
regarding in-flight oxygen use and equipment. The European Lung
Foundation has compiled information on European airlines, whose rules
and charges regarding in–flight oxygen may differ from those of
American carriers (www.european-lung-foundation.org).

You may wish to check whether you can buy affordable Travel Insurance at those two ages. It gets more expensive with increasing age. I won't travel without it, and I'm only 65.

I notice that this is your first post on this newsboard, and your final sentence is a bit ... off. Would you care to identify yourself further, or describe your recent previous travel and home state? Since your doctors' opinions are a lot more important than anything we could say, it would be helpful to know your most serious concerns. How many stairs can you climb? Do you have any balance problems in, say, the shower? Can you carry your own suitcase? How much luggage do you need to travel? What is the general level of your budget?

We are in the age range of the poster and yes travel insurance is expensive. Our Medigap policy covers emergency care for 60 days out of country so when we go on longer trips we take out comprehensive travel insurance; it cost us $1000 on our last trip. We also have something called medjet assist which is an annual policy that covers medical evacuation from any hospital to your home hospital. It ages out at 75 though. We have friends in their 80s who had horrendous medical issues in Myanmar and they had some sort of travel insurance in spite of serious pre-existing issues which handled their care, their move to a hospital in Bangkok and the trip home with nurse accompanying them who was flown from the US. So yes, you can get travel insurance but it is costly and necessary and does require some searching.

RE trip/medical insurance pre-existing conditions. Trip insurance MAY cover pre-existing conditions. As an example:

https://mvp.travelguard.com/pre-existing-medical-waiver

To qualify for this waiver, certain conditions need to be met
including:

Purchasing the travel insurance with your first trip deposit, or
shortly thereafter as explained in the policy;

The amount of coverage purchased equals all prepaid, non-refundable
trip payments or deposits, and the cost of any subsequent arrangements
added to the same trip are insured by the date of payment or deposit
for the additional arrangements;

You are medically able to travel when your travel insurance policy is
purchased.

Of course read and understand the terms and conditions of the policy.

Yes pre-existing conditions are only covered if the insurance is purchased immediately on the FIRST payment for the trip. We don't buy packages, we always organize for ourselves and so I may rent an apartment a year or more before the trip and not make airline reservations until 5 mos before, but for the insurance to cover, you need to get it in my case here a year in advance. I assume most anything that will go wrong for us except an accident will somehow be construed as a pre-existing condition given that we are old and have the usual assortment of old people's this and that. When I broke an elbow last fall, the insurance people actually asked about when the insurance was purchased and told me that they had to rule out pre-existing conditions if it was not purchased early enough -- for a broken elbow achieved by falling down the stairs of an ancient fortress ruin. 5 weeks into a trip, broken elbow, and yet the issue of pre-existing condition was raised.

You may wish to contact your airline for a wheelchair. Almost any airport is bigger than you think it will be. Agents will make sure you go to the head of the line.
No problem bringing narcotics or needles as long as you don't plan to sell them.Go to the pharmacy to have needles properly disposed of.